Chapter 17: Xing Gen

"Are you still refusing to reveal why they captured you?"

After a refreshing bath, Yusheng goes to meet the captured person who has been released and treated. And it is Qi who has dealt with the young man's severe injuries rather than the Military Doctors in the army.

After all, he can't allow anyone to know about the young man's existence.

Yusheng even went so far as to put a substitution with the similar physique as the young man in the torture room, so when some people go to check it out after he left the military barrack, they will only find a dead body that has already rotten beyond recognition.

"Alright, I'll reveal some precious information and then you will choose what you will do after you hear it. If you still remained quiet. Then the deal is off."

If you are still indecisive, then I'll put you back in the hidden room and you will have the same fate as the replacement.

Yusheng begins to gently tap the armchair with his fingers, which is becoming his habit, before narrowing his visible purple eye and opening his mouth.

"In the entire world, I am the only person capable enough to treat Wang Ling's incurable illness."

Well, Yusheng doesn't even know any medicinal skill, but since the System has mentioned it, then he can use it as a reason to make this person finally open his mouth.

I wonder why the Sun didn't tell me in detail how to do it though… really suspicious… I don't need to do it in a sketchy way right?

Swish!

Bam!

Suddenly, the chair dropped loudly on the ground as the young man stood up in utter disbelief with a shocked expression on his face.

"You… Cough... aren't lying to me, right?"

"It's your decision to believe me or not."

"...!!!"

Yusheng didn't want to give an explanation for the young man to fully trust his words. Although he can't help but glance at the red spot in the young man's skin on the side of his left neck.

Sigh… Why am I always meeting the carrier of miracles that are supposed to be rare in numbers? First, it's Fan Liqin, and now this young man is one too.

Although, when Yusheng stares at the rather charming appearance of the young man, he can't help but feel that there is also a great condition of being the carrier of miracle.

If not, just from the observation on how the young man had been tortured, there is a high chance that he would have experienced greater physical torture if they could harm him without thinking of the consequences.

Yusheng quickly removes those certain thoughts in his mind since he prefers to directly kill a person or slightly cause some pain during their death than to prolong the torture.

If it has to be done, there are other people that can do it for him.

Even in the modern world, Yusheng had witnessed the hidden darkness in the society, the only difference here is that his world as the Imperial Prince is crueler than ever.

"Remember, you are the one who needed my help. It doesn't matter to me if you tell me the reason or not. I can always find out later on."

"..."

Seeing as the young man has become quiet, Yusheng takes out the scroll he has been carrying and begins to read the report of the investigation that Qi had done so far.

It might take time to receive the young man's answer, so he will just deal with the situation in the military barracks while patiently waiting.

Hoh… look at all these people… which people should have their head chopped off… and which one should I let live?

"My name is Xing Gen. As you have guessed, I worked for his Royal Highness Wang Ling. I belong to the Xing tribe which is where the departed Imperial Consort, his Royal Highness Mother, had grown up."

After a few moments, Yusheng finally hears the young man speak up.

Although it isn't much of a secret, anyone can easily learn Wamg Ling's information regarding his Mother and the family behind them, which was quite insignificant compared to the families behind the wives of the Wang Emperor.

One can say that among the Princes born in the Wang Royal Family, the Short-Lived Prince has the most insignificant identity because his Imperial Mother was born in a humble tribe, without power and influence.

It's quite a wonder how Wang Ling managed to survive all these years. Unlike Yusheng's situation in the Su Royal Family, there are a lot of Princes and Princesses in the Wang Empire.

And it perfectly describes the most well-known situation when it comes to the people in the Imperial Family.

They are utterly ruthless, cruel, indifferent, and have almost no moral bottom line: the Imperial Family of the Wang Empire.

The only important clue Yusheng learns is the fact that this young man worked for Wang Ling.

"As for the reason why they captured and tortured me…"

Xing Gen can't help but pause a bit before silently gazing at the calm and leisure Second Imperial Prince listening to his words with a normal expression on his face.

The terrifying bloodthirst had completely disappeared, replaced by a harmless and kind countenance just as described in the investigation report they had gotten regarding the important figures in the entire continent.

Nonetheless, he knew how incorrect the reports had been regarding the Second Imperial Prince of the Su Empire, based on the difference in his bearing and temperament he witnessed.

There is no gentleness and thoughtfulness in this person, Gen only witnesses cruelty and decisiveness, even though he was saved, but he understood that it was all for the sake of his usefulness.

Your Royal Highness Wang Ling… Please forgive me… I want to take a gamble… I wouldn't have minded dying in that hidden room… but if he really can treat and cure your illness, then everything is worth it.

I will gladly accept any punishment you deemed fit after knowing my actions…

Xing Gen takes a deep breath before finally deciding to reveal what had been keeping his mouth shut.

"I had hidden the evidence about the exchange of letters between both of the Su and Wang Empires. Your Royal Highness Yusheng, there are two important figures using the war to make a final deal with each other. And it also concerns the situation of his Royal Highness Ling."

Yusheng's expression doesn't show any waves from what he is hearing, even after knowing that there is a mastermind manipulating the war.

After all, countless conjectures and ideas had already been flashing in his mind after learning the unusual situation in the military barracks.

Particularly when he connects everything he knows to the important events and information that occurred in the previous life.

"You might not know this Your Royal Highness, despite how incurable his Royal Highness Wang Ling's illness is with the analysis that he is unable to live long, in the dark, the Imperial Princes in the Wang Empire don't want to let go of him."

Xing Gen continues to speak with his heart beating fast, completely feeling fearful at the same time, hopeful about what he is revealing.

"They fear and envy his Royal Highness Wang Ling."

"Envious? It seems that there is a special reason why he has remained alive until this day. Let me guess… someone powerful had been secretly protecting him all these years, right?"

"...!"

Yusheng finally speaks after quietly listening to Xing Gen, and watches with an amused smile when he shows a shocked expression on his face.

"Everyone wants him dead. But he is still alive, and yet, they can't make a move in the open. Even going so far as to use the war to deal with Wang Ling, let me make another guess… the Emperor of the Wang Empire greatly favors Wang Ling, which is different from what is being portrayed outside right?"

Who else can firmly protect him but the Emperor himself? It seems that most of the emperors in this world are quite passionate. It's just too bad for the people they don't care about though.

"... Your Royal Highness… you are quite a terrifying person…"

Well, I know quite a bit of Wang Ling from the previous life's memories, even though we didn't get to meet in person.

Xing Gen can only let out a weak smile with his face turning pale from dread and hopelessness.

As for the reason why he doesn't even deny it, just meeting the visible purple right eye of the Imperial Prince had quickly dismissed such an idea in his mind.

"Thanks to you, I finally got an idea of what is happening. But I am still confused about a certain matter. Based on how they captured and kept you alive. It seems that you are the only person who knows where the evidence is."

Yusheng leans over with his right purple eye gleaming with a certain emotion, as he starts to question the young man about the pieces of information he is still missing.

"Hey, you also seem to be the only person who has figured out what they plan to do with your Master. Why aren't you scared? No… how are you sure that nothing bad will happen even if you were to die?"

The only reason why you even showed a reaction was the fact that I mentioned Wang Ling's name, and when I mentioned how I could treat his illness, it's when you started revealing what I wanted to know.

"Let me make another guess…"

Yusheng's smile widens, causing the young man to further pale and lean back into the chair he is sitting on.

"Someone else knows it too, right? A person you trust enough that you aren't worried about dying, taking what you know to your grave. So, before they capture you, somehow, you managed to inform another person. That is the main reason for your determination to die."

Well, it seems Yusheng answered his own question.

"Now, then, can you tell me the person who also knows what is going on?"

If what I learned from you is all true, then there is definitely something wrong with the person you trust. After all, in the previous life, the War continued on, and there wasn't anyone who was severely punished by his Emperor Father even when it was over.

It could only mean that the information you wanted to give to Wang Ling didn't manage to reach him.

"... Answer me. After I learn everything I need to know, I can start the preparation on how to handle the entire situation."

When the young man remains quiet, Yusheng can't help but violently throw the jade ornament he has on his body, causing a loud crash of an object breaking to pieces to echo out.

"My patience is limited. I also seem to have guessed everything correctly. Xing Gen, you have to show your worth."

I had enough of you always turning quiet in the important part.

Soon, Xing Gen sighs deeply before finally revealing the other person's identity who clearly knows the entire situation.

"I managed to inform Kang, a fellow tribesman, and a close relative of his Royal Highness Wang Ling on his mother's side."

"Kang?"

Yusheng's expression freezes while softly uttering the name 'Kang' under his breath before the wide smile in his face completely disappears as an enormous murderous intention swiftly emerges in his heart.

"He is the person you trust with the most important information? The person you place your bet to inform Wang Ling of the oncoming danger? Hah!"

Shortly after the derisive snort came out of Yusheng's mouth, a loud laughter fills the entire room, which seems to carry a complicated set of emotions.

"Hahahah, no wonder!"